Niverville Collegiate was on lockdown for a period of time Monday afternoon after a social media threat. According to the RCMP, a suspect is in custody. This suspect was apprehended within a very short time of the threat being made.

“This afternoon we became aware of a threat against NCI,” reads a statement from the Hanover School Division. “The threat was made on social media. RCMP have been notified and are actively investigating.”

The school was under a hold-and-secure protocol. The lockdown went into effect at 3:30 p.m. and was lifted 35 minutes later at 4:05 p.m. During that time, constables from the RCMP were on the scene to assist.

The division says that the school was safe and secure throughout the lockdown, during which time the school’s exterior doors were locked and parents were unable to pick up their children. No students or staff were injured and buses began their regular routes shortly after 4:00 p.m.

The threat against the school was not time-specific, according to a letter that the school division sent to parents.

“We have been assured by the RCMP that it is safe for all students to return to school tomorrow,” says the division. “Therefore all classes will run as per schedule. Counsellors will be available at the school tomorrow for those students that may need to talk or debrief.”

The division adds that it thanks all parents and guardians for their patience and cooperating. They are also grateful for the RCMP’s good work in keeping everyone safe.

No threat was made against the Niverville Elementary School.

This was the second time in two years that NCI received such threats. A threat made early in the morning of Wednesday, February 21, 2018 resulted in an RCMP investigation, although no lockdown was deemed necessary on that occasion.